Box dumping machine



July 18, 1950 A. J. KRONER 2,515,718

BOX DUMPING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l i gw July 18, 1950 Filed June 25, 1945 A. J. KRONER BOX DUMPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 18,1950

s rA'rsrrlv orrlcs [Box DIUMPING MACHINE Albert J. Kroner, Vancouver, Wash., assignor to California Packing Corporation, San Francisco, .Calif., a corporation of New York Application June 25, 1945, Serial No. 601,515

7 11 Claims.

My invention relates to the art ofmechanically removing the contents of receptacles, and more particularly-to a means of mechanically dumping said receptacles.

The advantages of mechanical dumping are,

apparent, and a number of devices have been constructed for this purpose. These devices, however, are unsatisfactory in that heretofore it has been thought necessary to provide means for mechanically grasping the receptacles, holding said receptacles fixed by mechanical means while said receptacles are overturned. This, of course, requires a complexity of parts and an expensiveness of construction with which I propose to do away. i

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple, compact, and inexpensive means for dumping boxes. This I do by a method I have devised for utilizing the forces of gravity in the dumping operation, rendering unnecessary the use of expensive and complicated machinery.

The mechanical dumping of receptacles is of alignment therewith. Moving belt 1 driven by motor 8 by virtue of pulleys 9 rides on rollers 6 and on rollers' l of platform 2. It is the purpose of this belt to urge receptacles I entering from conveyor track onto and over platform 2. Supported on hanger II connected to transverse members I2 of platform 2 is guide bar I3, having roller discs I4 thereon. It is the function of said guide bar I3 and said roller disc I4 to align entering receptacles I0 on platform 2 in such manner that the center of gravity of such receptacles projects slightly over the belt I and then .beyond the ends of rollers 4, thus rendering the position of said receptacles unstable. I have provided, a; stabilizing wheel [5, revolving upon shaft It, which projects from platform 2 at the entering end, of said platform, whereby said receptacles III are prevented from tipping or falling as they enter the platform 2, thus being main- 0 tained stably until completely on said platform often of use where the contents of such receptacles ing any such injurious contacts to'the objects being dumped during the operation of my'in vention. I

Other objects and advantages of this invention, it' is believed, will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodi-. ment thereof, as illustrated in the accompany ing drawings; r v

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of my dumping apparatus.

Figure 2 illustrates a top plan view of my dumping apparatus.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatical end views of my dumping apparatus taken on a sectionalong the line 3--3 in Figure 2, showing the steps of the dumping operation.

'Figure 6 shows diagrammatically a modification'of my dumping apparatus.

In my device the frame members I support dumping platform 2. Said platform is comprised of longitudinal frame members 3 and rollers 4 revolvablymounted transversely thereon. Leading to said platform is .a standard conveyor track 5, having rollers 6. It is to be noted that said conveyor track 5 .doesnot lead-to said platform 2 in longitudinal alignment, but is substantially out the first stage of the dumping operation, and is,

of course, below and to the side of platform 2. Adjacent said landing bar I1 is V-belt I8, which is adapted to support the side of the dumped receptacle and carry the same forward. V-belt I8 is mounted on pulleys I9 supported on shaft 20 and supporting member ZI, and is driven through said shaft 23 by motor '8. Situated above and to the side of said V-belt I8 is V-belt 22 mounted on pulleys 23, which are 'rotatively supported by the frame I, and driven through universal joint 24, which transmits power from shaft 20 to shaft 25. V-belt 22 is adapted to support the top of dumped receptacles I0 and said V-belt I8 carries the same forward. The

forward pulley 23 carrying V-belt 22 is keyed to shaft 26, which is rotatively supported by frame member I andto which is also keyed pulley 21. Mounted on pulley 21 is V-belt 28, which supports the top of receptacles Ill and urges the same forward while gradually encouraging said receptacles back to an upright position upon departing conveyor track 29. Conveyor track 29 has thereon rollers 30, and in fact, comprises a recontinuation of conveyor track -5 and is adapted to carry off empty receptacles. To aid in the returning of said receptacles to conveyor track 29, Ihave provided guide rod 3|, which is mounted upon frame I and supporting member 2I in proximity to V-belt 28, and which urges the tipprovide sides whereby the fruit is prevented from spilling out of the chute.

In the operation of my dumping device receptacles 10 enter said device byconveycrltracl: .5 upon rollers 6 and are carried on to dum ping platform 2 by the belt I.

M on guide bar l3 to an unstable position, being supported, however, from tipping by stabilizing wheel 15, as shown in Figure 3. The receptacles are :urged further forward and whenthe rearward ends thereof pass over and beyond stabilizing wheel I 5. said receptacles tip and slide to the position shown in Figure. 4, being supported by landing bar I! at side-36.v In this position, the .contents of receptacles Ill, shown here as pears, tumble over one another -gravitationally toward side 36. This bringsthe now center of gravity of the receptacle andits con-tents beyond and over the said landing bar l! :and causes the receptacle II] to rotate about landing bar ll. ,As shown .in Figure 5, the receptacle lllassumes apposition whereby the side -36'is supported by V-belt l8 and thetop 3.9 is supported by V-belt 22. This brings the :side.38 substantially into .co-planar alignment with the chuteJtE,v and allows the contents toiroll-onto said chute avoiding sudden bruising .of contents. The empty receptacle IE1 is then urged by said -V-belts l8 and '22--f orward and outof the way of the following receptacles. The carrying forward of said V-belts continues untilV-belt 28 takes theplace of V-belt '22 insupportingthe top 39 of the receptacle I 0, and urges the receptacleforward and back to an upright position. At this point, guide rod'3l co-acts with the top 39 of t-hereceptacle, urging it further into an upright position as it is carried forward, until finally the center of gravity of the dumped receptacle passes overthe V-belt l8 and said receptacle falls baok into an upright position upon thedeparting conveyor track 29.

Of-course, my invention is not limited to-"the particular means described above for conveying the receptacles M to the dumping platform. Figure-6 shows diagrammatically a modification of my box dumper whereby a frontal approach is used. "In this case, the dumpingplatform 2 comprises the-ordinary frame members and an extension of power belt conveyor-6!] driven through sprocket ll in well-known manner. In thisadaption I have chosen a free roller 42 on a le-vel'with and. adjacent the end o-f-beltdll, to prevent-a too-early dumping of the box which might result in its failure to carry on over thelanding bar 1-! .to the ordinarydumped positionaon the v-belts I 8 and 22. -t should be noted that conveyor track 2'9. permits of modification to a'powered belt for conveying purposes, and that powered belt Ml, if desired, might be approached fromaconveyor track similar tothe conveyor track 5 shown in Figures. 1 and 2.

Having described a preferredembodimentof my invention,;it is to berrund'erstood' that :I do not wish tobeilimited to thexdetails: set; forth in Entering dumping platform 2, said receptacles are guided by rollers said description, but that my invention is to be of the full scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described: a frame; a platform mounted thereon; an entering receptacle conveyor leading to said platform; a moving belt riding over said platform; a guide bar on said frame whereby said receptacles are caused to ride on said platform and belt unstably; a stabilizing member on said frame at the entering end of said platform and level therewith; a, landing bar on said frame below and to the side of said platform; a driven V-belt adapted to co- "act with the top of a dumped receptacle falling from said-platform and landing on said landing bar; asecond 'V-belt adapted to co-act with the side of said receptacle in a similar manner; a third V-belt whereby said receptacle is removed from a dumped position; a second guide bar adapted to tip said receptacle back to an upright position as it is carried forward b said third V -belt; and a leaving conveyor in proximity to said-'V-belts and, guide bar for removing empty receptacles. I

.2. In a device of the class described: a frame; a platform mounted thereon; means for conveyingwreceptacles to said platform; means for conveying receptacles along said platform; a guide bar for maintaining said receptacles unstably on said platform; .a stabilizing member on said frame at the entering end ,of said platform and level therewith; a landing bar on said frame below and tolthe side of said platform; means for catching said receptacles in dumped position; and means for conveying said receptacles from said dumped position. I

13. In a device of the class described: a frame; a platformmounted thereon; means for conveying receptacles to said platform; means for conveying receptacles along said platform; a guide bar for maintaining said receptacles unstably on said platform; a stabilizing member on said frame at the :entering'end of said platform and level therewith; a landing bar on said frame below and to the's-ide of said platform; and means forcatching said receptacles in; dumped position.

4. J-Inxa; device of the. class described a frame; a-platform mountedv thereon; conveying means for -.introducing receptacles to said platform; means) for conveying said receptacles alongsaid platform; a guiding means along said platform whereby said receptacles are caused to ride on said, platform un tablywith their respective center of gravity disposed beyond the edge of said platform astabilizi :member adjacent .said platform cooperating wi h said plafiorminsui porting said receptacles as said receptacles; proess-ma aya en said. pla form means a jacent and on the opposite side of -said-centers of gravity from said platform adapteditozreceive dumped receptacles; and means for carrying away said dumped boxes.

- 5.- Ina device QOf-ii hE: class described: a frame; a-platform mountedthereon; conveying. means for introducing. receptacles-to said platform: means. for conveying: said. receptacles along said platform; guidingzmeansalong said platform whereby said: r ceptacles are. caused-to ride on said platformnnstably, with their respective centers of-gravity disposed; beyond .theedge of said platform a' stabilizing. memberadj acent and on theizopposite side of said centersv of' gravity from saicb platform cooperating with said platform in supporting said. receptacles, as said receptacles progress part: way alongsaid platform; andmeans adjacent said platform adapted to receive dumped receptacles.

6. In a device of the class described: a frame; a platform mounted thereon; means for conveying receptacles to said platform; means for conveying receptacles along said platform; a guide bar for maintaining such receptacles unstably on said platform with their respective centers of gravity disposed beyond the edge .of said platform; a stabilizingmember on the opposite side of said centers of gravity from said platform and adjacent said platform substantially on a level therewith; V-belts adjacent said platform adapted to receive said receptacles; receiving means adjacent said V-belts; and a chute leading to said receiving means from one of said receptacles when said receptacle is in dumped position supported by said V-belts, the surface of said chute being substantially co-planar with the side of said receptacle from which the contents thereof spill.

7. In a device of the class described: a frame; a platform mounted thereon; conveying means for introducing receptacles to said platform; means for conveying said receptacles along said platform; guiding means along said platform whereby said receptacles are caused to ride on said platform with their respective centers of gravity disposed beyond the edge of said platform; a stabilizing member adjacent and on the opposite side of said centers of gravity from said platform; supporting means adjacent said platform adapted to receive dumped receptacles; receiving means adjacent said supporting means; and a chute leading to said receiving means from one of said receptacles when said receptacle is in dumped position supported by said V-belts, the surface of said chute being substantiall coplanar with the side of said receptacle from which the contents thereof spill.

8. In a device of the class described: a frame; a platform mounted thereon; means for conveying receptacles to said platform; means for conveying receptacles along said platform; means for renderingsaid receptacles unstable on said platform; a landing bar adjacent and below said platform adapted to catch said receptacles; V-belts adjacent said landing bar adapted to receive said receptacles; receiving means adjacent said V-belts; and a chute leading to said receiving means from one of said receptacles when said receptacle is in dumped position supported by said V-belts, the surface of said chute being substantially co-planar with the side of said receptable from which the contents thereof spill.

9. In a device of the class described: a frame;

a dumping platform on said frame; means for conveying receptacles to said dumping platform; a roller member adjacent said dumping platform and substantially level therewith; a landing bar below said platform adapted to. catch said receptacles during dumping; driven V-belts adapted to coact with the sides and tops of said receptacles and carrying said receptacles forward; guiding means adapted to tilt back said receptacles to upright position; and means for carrying away said receptacles.

10. A receptacle handling apparatus comprising: a platform; a conveyor leading to said plat= form; a guide member for positioning receptacles on said platform wightheir respective centers, of gravity positioned beyond the edge of said platform; a stabilizing member adjacent and on the opposite side of said centers of gravit from said platform and extending only partially along said platform, whereby said receptacles are stabilized temporarily and then allowed to dump; a landing bar below said platform; driven belt members positioned to engage the side and top of receptacles dumping and pivc-ting about said landing bar; and a second guide member adapted to tip said receptacles back to upright position.

11. A receptacle handling apparatus comprising: avplatform; a conveyor leading to said platform; a guide member for positioning receptacles on said platform with their respective centers of gravity positioned beyond the edge of said platform; a stabilizing member adjacent and on the oppositeside of said centers of gravity from said platform and extending only partially along said platform, whereby said receptacles are stabilized temporarily and then allowed to dump; a landing bar below said platform; driven belt members positioned to engage the side and top of receptacles dumping and pivoting about said landing bar; and a second guide member adapted to tip saidreceptacles back to upright position, said belt members being adapted to carry receptacles to said second guide member.

ALBERT J. KRONER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,297,486 Murray Mar. 18, 1919 2,119,596 Mintert et al. June 7, 1938 2,136,488 Byington Nov. 15, 1938 2,271,187 Fortescue et a1 Jan. 27, 1942 

